e c n e i r e p x E e ll i v e h s A FOUR NEW WAYS TO
Shake up your Asheville itinerary story by Vanessa Infanzon
W
hen we visit the same place multiple times, we often return to our favorite restaurants, hike familiar trails and even stay at the same hotel we’ve always booked. The 90-minute road trip to Asheville from Upstate South Carolina may be your go-to for a comfortable getaway because you know it well. But do you really? Could you be missing out on all that Asheville has to offer? Here are four ideas for shaking up a fall visit to Asheville: LEARN A NEW SKILL AT LOCAL CLOTH The nonprofit, Local Cloth, was founded in 2012 to connect farmers to fiber artists and grow the local economy. Local Cloth is on Depot Street in the River Arts District with 150 other craft galleries and artist studios. Maps of the area are available at each location. Local Cloth offers half-day and full-day workshops for beginners and experienced artisans. Folks can learn how to dye alpaca or sheep wool, make a felt-style hat or scarf, and shop for clothing and household goods created by local artists, and wool and yarn from local farmers. Look for Local Cloth’s booth at the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair at the WNC Agricultural Center, October 22-24. Vendors from all over the world will be selling fleece, yarn and silk for spinning and knitting. localcloth.org, saffsite.org ADD THE BILTMORE’S ROOFTOP TOUR TO THE SCHEDULE Sure, you’ve seen the Biltmore House, its gardens and the lights at Christmas. I’m betting you haven’t seen the views from the roof. It’s an 18 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
exclusive one-hour Rooftop Tour with closeup views of ornamental elements and architecture such as the gargoyles and intricate stonework from the roof and balconies. Twelve guests at a time learn about the history of the Biltmore’s construction. Check details about ticket requirements and accessibility before booking a trip. biltmore.com/tour/rooftop-tour
Learning how to dye alpaca or sheep’s wool is just one of the crafts would-be artisans can learn at Local Cloth. Photo courtesy of Local Cloth
